Bad Puck Support Leads to Opening Goal

Once again, I watched an NHL game and found 2 common mistakes that I constantly remind my players of during practice and games.

Watch the video below and then I’ll dissect it further. Make sure you watch at :03-:05 seconds and see if you find the 2 mistakes (make it 3 if you count the Goalie, watch at :43 seconds on to see it):

In this play, I see 2 glaring mistakes that result in a bad goal.

1. Poor Puck Support by the Defenseman
2. Poor Decision by Crosby on when and more importantly, HOW to move the puck. 

How I’m teaching this play to my players, I strongly feel the Defenseman (#2) can’t jump this play and call for the puck. 

1. Letang is already at the middle of the circles
2. 2 Boston players are coming up the ice 

The second issue I have is Crosby’s play on this puck.

1. He also has to know those 2 Boston players are coming at him
2. He rushes to try to slap it out of the air.  He has to stop that puck and control it first. Once he does that, he has two options:

• Throw it back down the wall
• Push it back to the Supporting D (if he was in position)

The Penguins played rushed all game.  Trying to get rid of pucks as fast as they got a hold of them. Sloppy passes, sloppy turnovers resulted in a lot of bad goals.

The last mistake I see on this play is the Goalie.  If you watch the angle from behind the net (~:43 seconds) Vokoun starts cheating back to the middle and leaves the glove side exposed.  I’m not a goalie and maybe this is the correct play but I have to think he needs to protect that side.